Chapter 98 A Shift in Balance
+5 Free Coins
When Lucas turned, he found himself face–to–face with a slim teenage boy wearing a backpack. His long bangs fell low over his eyes, but they couldn’t hide the cold glint behind them.
Lucas frowned but forced a smile. “Back from school?”
Jimmy didn’t let go of his wrist. His voice was ice–cold. “I told you to stay away from my
sister.”
Sometimes, Lucas truly couldn’t understand what he had done to provoke Stella’s three younger brothers. Not one of them liked him. You’d think a famous celebrity like him becoming their brother–in–law would have them secretly thrilled. But no–each one of them had it out for him.
Still, as irritated as he was, Lucas kept his composure. “Your sister and I just had a little misunderstanding. You’re still too young to understand.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted past Jimmy, through the narrow visiting window on the hospital door.
Inside, Stella had just taken a box of nutritional supplements from Nathan’s hands. Her face lit up with a gentle smile.
“Sit for a bit. Louis isn’t back from school yet. Once he’s here, we can head home,” she said. warmly.
She hadn’t expected Nathan to arrive so early–it wasn’t even seven o’clock yet. Nor had she thought he’d actually bring something with him. He really was a remarkably polite and considerate man.
Nathan gave a small nod and turned toward the bed, offering Jenn a gentle smile. “Hello, I’m a friend of Stella’s.”
Jenn’s eyes lit up instantly. “You’re so handsome!”
Stella blinked in surprise. She couldn’t deny it–Nathan really was something else. His features were impossibly perfect, almost to the point of being unreal. Even the little mole near the tip of his nose carried an almost iconic weight.
Nathan’s eyes glinted with a smile. “Thank you. You’re very
beautiful too.”
Suddenly, a strange chill ran down the back of his neck, as if someone were staring at him
00
22
22
QIR
|||
<
1/3
11:43 Fri, Aug 22 G.
Chapter 98 A Shift in Balance
from behind.
58%
+5 Free Coins
The caregiver auntie, noticing that Stella had a friend over, brought over a fresh plate of cut fruit. “Have a seat. Have some fruit.”
Nathan moved toward the sofa, casually glancing toward the door as he walked.
Through the glass, Lucas was staring into the room with a dead–eyed intensity.
Nathan’s brow creased slightly, a flash of contempt flickering in his eyes. He’d already chosen a new lover–so why was he still peeking at Sparkle? Did he really think he could have it both ways?
Stella, meanwhile, remained unaware of anything happening outside. The room’s soundproofing was excellent, and she hadn’t heard a thing. She sat down on the sofa and picked up a piece of watermelon with a fork.
Her thoughts wandered back to Nathan’s hand. She lifted her gaze and saw that he had also taken a seat.
Putting the fork aside, she reached out to take his right hand.
Nathan tensed instantly. His gaze dropped to her face, lashes trembling ever so slightly.
Sparkle was holding his hand again.
She must have seen Lucas outside.
So this was her way of retaliating–using him to get back at Lucas.
But that was fine. He didn’t mind being used.
Her soft, smooth fingertips brushed against his skin, and Nathan focused all his willpower on keeping his breathing steady and his expression composed.
“Has your hand healed?” she asked, lifting his hand closer for a better look.
It was a beautiful hand–cool–toned, long–fingered, the joints delicate and clean, the nails carefully trimmed and faintly pink. It looked like the kind of hand that was good at everything.
Stella caught herself and nearly grimaced. The moment her mind veered into questionable territory, she wanted to slap herself. Jesus, pull it together. How did your brain even go there?
Fine, she admitted it–senior year had been stressful, and she’d occasionally read erotica to
2/3
22
1
OIR
|||
O
<
11:43 Fri, Aug 22 G
Chapter 98 A Shift in Balance
58%
+5 Free Coins
blow off steam. It was her personal coping mechanism, not something anyone else needed to know about.
“It’s fine now,” came Nathan’s warm, measured reply.
And it was. There was no bandage anymore, and the scabs had already fallen off. All that remained were two small scars.
They weren’t visible from a distance, but up close, they stood out clearly–like a perfect painting that had been marked by a few tiny ink stains.
Stella felt a twinge of guilt. “Too bad it left a scar. I got Louis a really good scar removal ointment. Want me to give you a tube to try?”
She remembered him saying in the car that day that he cared a lot about appearances.
“I’d like that. Thanks.”
The scent of her skin lingered in the air between them. Nathan focused all his energy on keeping his voice calm and gentle. In that moment, he forgot completely that someone might be watching from outside.
At the door, Lucas’s fury was nearly physical. He couldn’t hear a word they were saying, but he could see everything.
. Fine. Real fine, he thought bitterly.
He’d held Hannah’s hand, and now Stella was holding Nathan’s.
So this was how she wanted to play it.
V
22
22
OR
